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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(MARK ONE)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended AUGUST 1, 1999 or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________to _________
Commission file number 0-6920
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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3050 Bowers Avenue
Santa Clara, California 95054-3299
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(408) 727-5555
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [ ].
Number of shares outstanding of the issuer's common stock as of August 1, 1999: 378,415,371
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited):
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of October 25, 1998 and August 1, 1999
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1: Legal Proceedings
Item 5: Other Information
Item 6: Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
----------------------- -----------------------
(In thousands, except per July 26, Aug. 1, July 26, Aug. 1,
share amounts) 1998 1999 1998 1999
---------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net sales.......................... $884,491 $1,433,510 $3,368,492 $3,293,613
Cost of products sold.............. 490,102 734,895 1,790,373 1,756,654
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Gross margin....................... 394,389 698,615 1,578,119 1,536,959
Operating expenses:
Research, development and
engineering................... 154,044 171,195 518,310 478,546
Marketing and selling........... 79,896 87,627 250,974 235,560
General and administrative...... 69,667 99,634 212,180 242,113
Non-recurring items............. 35,000 -- 67,227 5,000
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from operations............. 55,782 340,159 529,428 575,740
Non-recurring income............... -- -- 80,000 20,000
Interest expense................... 11,282 11,883 35,031 34,947
Interest income.................... 18,868 25,950 58,377 75,352
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before taxes................ 63,368 354,226 632,774 636,145
Provision for income taxes......... 15,851 109,810 215,143 197,205
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income......................... $47,517 $244,416 $417,631 $438,940
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Earnings per share:
Basic........................... $0.13 $0.65 $1.14 $1.17
Diluted......................... $0.13 $0.61 $1.10 $1.11
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic........................... 366,942 376,901 366,584 373,815
Diluted......................... 378,072 397,877 378,808 394,196
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS*
Oct. 25, Aug. 1,
(In thousands) 1998 1999
---------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents.................... $575,205 $577,999
Short-term investments....................... 1,188,351 1,680,616
Accounts receivable, net..................... 764,472 1,107,712
Inventories.................................. 555,881 575,333
Deferred income taxes........................ 337,906 335,213
Other current assets......................... 97,140 127,003
------------ ------------
Total current assets............................ 3,518,955 4,403,876
Property, plant and equipment, net.............. 1,261,520 1,195,337
Other assets.................................... 149,217 167,658
------------ ------------
Total assets.................................... $4,929,692 $5,766,871
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Notes payable................................ $644 $876
Current portion of long-term debt............ 7,367 6,361
Accounts payable and accrued expenses........ 1,041,341 1,118,863
Income taxes payable......................... 68,974 275,927
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities....................... 1,118,326 1,402,027
Long-term debt.................................. 616,572 611,920
Deferred income taxes and other liabilities..... 74,173 85,041
------------ ------------
Total liabilities............................... 1,809,071 2,098,988
------------ ------------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock................................. 3,679 3,784
Additional paid-in capital................... 792,145 918,883
Retained earnings............................ 2,328,940 2,767,880
Accumulated other comprehensive
income/(loss)............................... (4,143) (22,664)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity...................... 3,120,621 3,667,883
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity...... $4,929,692 $5,766,871
============ ============
*
Amounts as of August 1, 1999 are unaudited. Amounts as of October 25, 1998 are from the October 25, 1998 audited financial statements.
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Nine Months Ended
--------------------------
July 26, Aug. 1,
(In thousands) 1998 1999
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income...................................... $417,631 $438,940
Adjustments required to reconcile net income
to cash provided by operations:
Acquired in-process research and
development expense.......................... 32,227 --
Depreciation and amortization................. 211,133 208,575
Deferred income taxes......................... (2,363) 2,541
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of
amounts acquired:
Accounts receivable, net................... 244,892 (345,711)
Inventories................................ 43,603 (25,680)
Other current assets....................... (105,076) (27,336)
Other assets............................... (8,844) (31,538)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses...... (175,530) 84,639
Income taxes payable....................... (56,169) 205,361
Other liabilities.......................... 11,441 9,706
------------ ------------
Cash provided by operations....................... 612,945 519,497
------------ ------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures, net of retirements........ (375,435) (145,800)
Cash paid for licensed technology............... (32,227) --
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments... 618,324 703,979
Purchases of short-term investments............. (739,122) (1,196,244)
------------ ------------
Cash used for investing........................... (528,460) (638,065)
------------ ------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Short-term debt activity, net................... (55,239) 1,338
Long-term debt activity, net.................... (7,117) (6,620)
Common stock transactions, net.................. (81,635) 128,402
------------ ------------
Cash provided by/(used for) financing............. (143,991) 123,120
------------ ------------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash........... (1,480) (1,758)
------------ ------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents.. (60,986) 2,794
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period... 448,043 575,205
------------ ------------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period......... $387,057 $577,999
============ ============
For the nine months ended July 26, 1998, cash payments for interest and
income taxes were $23,524 and $257,417, respectively. For the nine months ended
August 1, 1999, cash payments for interest were $24,261 and net income tax
refunds were $21,470.
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
NINE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 1, 1999
1) Basis of Presentation
In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated condensed financial
statements of Applied Materials, Inc. (Applied Materials) included herein
have been prepared on a consistent basis with the October 25, 1998 audited
consolidated financial statements and include all material adjustments,
consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly present the
information set forth therein. These interim consolidated condensed
financial statements should be read in conjunction with the October 25, 1998
audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in
Applied Materials' 1998 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference in
Applied Materials' Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 25, 1998.
Applied Materials' results of operations for the three and nine months ended
August 1, 1999 are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
Applied Materials' fiscal year ends on the last Sunday in October of each year. Fiscal 1998 contained 52 weeks, whereas fiscal 1999 will contain 53 weeks. For fiscal 1999, the first quarter contained 14 weeks, and all other quarters will contain 13 weeks.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
2) Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is determined using the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is
determined using the weighted average number of common shares and
equivalents (representing the dilutive effect of stock options) outstanding
during the period. Applied Materials' net income has not been adjusted for
any period presented for purposes of computing basic and diluted earnings
per share.
For purposes of computing diluted earnings per share, weighted average common share equivalents do not include stock options with an exercise price that exceeded the average fair market value of Applied Materials' common stock for the period. For the three months ended August 1, 1999, options to purchase approximately 78,000 shares of common stock at an average exercise price of $70.50 were excluded from the computation, and for the nine months ended August 1, 1999, options to purchase approximately 1,095,000 shares of common stock at an average exercise price of $61.63 were excluded from the computation.
3) Accounts Receivable, Net
Applied Materials has numerous agreements that allow it to sell certain
accounts receivable at a discount to various financial institutions.
Receivable sales have the effect of increasing cash and reducing accounts
receivable and days sales outstanding. During the nine months ended August
1, 1999, Applied Materials sold $637 million of accounts receivable under
these agreements. At August 1, 1999, $258 million of these receivables
remained outstanding and subject to certain recourse provisions. Applied
Materials does not expect these recourse provisions to have a material
effect on its financial condition or results of operations. Discounting
fees were not material for the nine months ended August 1, 1999, and were
recorded as interest expense.
4) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined
on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. The components of inventories are as
follows (in thousands):
October 25, August 1,
1998 1999
------------ ------------
Customer service spares............ $239,139 $224,865
Raw materials...................... 98,180 114,398
Work-in-process.................... 126,533 154,257
Finished goods..................... 92,029 81,813
------------ ------------
$555,881 $575,333
============ ============
5) Other Assets
The components of other assets are as follows (in thousands):
October 25, August 1,
1998 1999
------------ ------------
Purchased technology, net.......... $91,218 $80,121
Goodwill, net...................... 11,614 10,173
Other.............................. 46,385 77,364
------------ ------------
$149,217 $167,658
============ ============
Purchased technology and goodwill are presented at cost, net of accumulated amortization, and are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of eight years using the straight-line method. Applied Materials periodically analyzes these assets to determine whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred.
6) Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
The components of accounts payable and accrued expenses are as follows (in
thousands):
October 25, August 1,
1998 1999
------------ ------------
Accounts payable................... $182,616 $311,061
Compensation and benefits.......... 185,391 214,684
Installation and warranty.......... 179,742 189,318
Restructuring...................... 91,781 17,683
Other.............................. 401,811 386,117
------------ ------------
$1,041,341 $1,118,863
============ ============
7) Accrued Restructuring Costs
Restructuring activity was as follows (in thousands):
Severance
and
Benefits Facilities Total
------------ ------------ ------------
Balance, October 25, 1998.......... $35,286 $56,495 $91,781
Amount utilized.................... (30,132) (43,966) (74,098)
------------ ------------ ------------
Balance, August 1, 1999............ $5,154 $12,529 $17,683
============ ============ ============
During the third fiscal quarter of 1999, $9 million of cash was used for restructuring costs. The majority of the remaining cash outlays of $18 million is expected to occur before the end of fiscal 1999.
8) Non-recurring Items (Operating Expenses)
Fiscal 1999
During the first fiscal quarter of 1999, Applied Materials recorded $5
million of pre-tax operating expenses in connection with its acquisition of
Consilium, Inc., which was completed on December 11, 1998.
Fiscal 1998
Non-recurring items for the nine months ended July 26, 1998 consisted of a
restructuring charge ($35 million) and in-process research and development
expense ($32 million).
During the third fiscal quarter of 1998, in response to continued reductions in capital spending by semiconductor manufacturers, Applied Materials completed a voluntary separation plan and developed plans to consolidate certain facilities. In connection with these actions, Applied Materials recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $35 million.
During the first fiscal quarter of 1998, Applied Materials entered into an agreement with Trikon Technologies, Inc. for a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license of MORI(TM) plasma source and Forcefill(TM) deposition technology. Because the development of this technology had not yet reached technological feasibility at the time of its acquisition and had no alternative future use for Applied Materials, Applied Materials recognized $32 million, including transaction costs, of acquired in-process research and development expense at the time of its acquisition.
9) Non-recurring Income
During the first fiscal quarter of 1998, Applied Materials settled all
outstanding litigation with ASM International, N.V. (ASMI). As a result of
this settlement, Applied Materials received a convertible note for $80
million and recorded the amount as non-recurring income. Applied Materials
collected $15 million against the note in November 1997.
During the fourth fiscal quarter of 1998, Applied Materials determined, based on facts and circumstances known at the time, that collection of the remaining note balance was doubtful. Based on this determination, Applied Materials recorded a $65 million pre-tax, non-operating charge to fully reserve the outstanding note balance.
During the first fiscal quarter of 1999, and subsequent to the original maturity date of the note, Applied Materials received a $20 million payment from ASMI and recorded the amount as non-recurring income. ASMI's payment was made in accordance with a restructuring of ASMI's obligations under the November 1997 litigation settlement agreement. Pursuant to the new agreement, ASMI agreed to pay $20 million upon completion of the restructuring, $10 million on November 2, 1999 and $35 million no later than November 2, 2000. Applied Materials will recognize non-recurring income related to the remaining balance of the note receivable upon receipt of cash. Certain other obligations of ASMI were also modified under the new agreement; however, these modifications are not expected to be material to Applied Materials' financial condition or results of operations. Royalties received from ASMI pursuant to the settlement agreement have not been, and are not expected to be, material.
10) Stockholders' Equity
Comprehensive Income
Applied Materials adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
130 (SFAS 130), "Reporting Comprehensive Income," in the first fiscal
quarter of 1999. SFAS 130 establishes new rules for the reporting and
display of comprehensive income and its components, but does not impact net
income or total stockholders' equity. Components of comprehensive income,
on an after-tax basis, are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
----------------------- -----------------------
July 26, Aug. 1, July 26, Aug. 1,
1998 1999 1998 1999
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income...................... $47,517 $244,416 $417,631 $438,940
Foreign currency translation
adjustments.................... (11,212) (4,533) (17,964) (18,521)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Comprehensive income............. $36,305 $239,883 $399,667 $420,419
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) presented in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets consists entirely of foreign currency translation adjustments.
Stock Repurchase Program
Applied Materials is authorized to systematically repurchase shares of its
common stock in the open market to reduce dilution resulting from its stock-based
employee benefit and incentive plans. This authorization is effective
until the March 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. During the nine months
ended August 1, 1999, Applied Materials repurchased 275,000 shares of its
common stock at an average price of $72.80 per share, for a total cash
outlay of $20 million, compared to 4,453,000 shares of common stock at an
average price of $32.11 per share, for a total cash outlay of $143 million,
during the nine months ended July 26, 1998.
Stockholder Rights Plan
In July 1999, the Board of Directors of Applied Materials adopted a
stockholder rights plan. Applied Materials' prior stockholder rights plan
expired in June 1999. Under the new plan, the Board declared and
distributed a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right")
for each share of Applied Materials' common stock outstanding on July 18,
1999 and authorized the distribution of one Right for each subsequently
issued common share. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
one ten-thousandth of a share of Applied Materials' Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock at a price of $375. The Rights are attached
to the common stock and are not represented by separate certificates. The
Rights are not exercisable until ten business days following the earliest of
either (i) a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons has acquired, or has obtained the right to acquire (an
"Acquiring Person"), beneficial ownership of 20 percent or more of Applied
Materials' outstanding common stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii)
the commencement of (or public announcement of an intention to make) a
tender or exchange offer that would result, if successful, in the bidder
becoming an Acquiring Person. In the event that any person or group becomes
an Acquiring Person (other than as a result of a Permitted Offer; i.e., a
tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding common stock at a price
determined by the Board to be fair and adequate to the stockholders, and
otherwise in the best interests of Applied Materials and its stockholders),
then each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, for $375, a number of
shares of Applied Materials' common stock having a market value of $750.
Any Rights held by the Acquiring Person will immediately become null and
void. If after the Stock Acquisition Date, Applied Materials is acquired in
a merger or other business combination or 50 percent or more of Applied
Materials' assets or earning power (on a consolidated basis) is sold or
transferred, each Right (except Rights which previously have been voided or
exercised) will entitle its holder to purchase, for $375, common stock of
the acquiring company having a market value of $750. Applied Materials may
redeem the Rights at $.01 per Right, and may amend the Rights (other than
with respect to principal economic terms) or extend the time during which
the Rights may be redeemed, only prior to the tenth business day following
the Stock Acquisition Date. Unless earlier redeemed, the Rights will expire
on July 6, 2009.
11) New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1999, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 137 (SFAS 137), "Accounting
for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities - Deferral of the
Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133." SFAS 137 amends Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS 133), "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," to defer its effective date
to all fiscal quarters of all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000.
Applied Materials is in the process of determining the effect of adopting
SFAS 133, which will be effective for the first fiscal quarter of 2001.
12) Pending Acquisition
On May 28, 1999, Applied Materials announced that it had entered into an
agreement to acquire Obsidian, Inc. (Obsidian), a developer of fixed-abrasive
chemical mechanical polishing solutions to the semiconductor
industry, in a stock-for-stock merger. The acquisition is subject to
regulatory approval and certain other conditions, and will be accounted for
as a purchase business combination. Applied Materials expects to issue a
number of shares of its common stock, having a value up to approximately
$150 million, to complete this transaction. The purchase price in excess of
the fair value of Obsidian's net tangible assets will be allocated between
intangible assets and in-process research and development expense.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
In addition to historical statements, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are those that use words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "may," "will," "estimates" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect management's opinions only as of the date hereof, and Applied Materials, Inc. (Applied Materials) assumes no obligation to update this information. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed below, particularly in the section entitled "Trends, Risks and Uncertainties". Other risks and uncertainties are disclosed in Applied Materials' prior SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 25, 1998 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for subsequent interim periods.
Results of Operations
Demand for Applied Materials' products can change significantly from period to period as a result of numerous factors, including, but not limited to: 1) changes in global economic conditions, 2) changes in demand for semiconductors, 3) memory device price fluctuations, and 4) the advanced technology requirements of semiconductor manufacturers. For this and other reasons, Applied Materials' results of operations for the three and nine months ended August 1, 1999 may not necessarily be indicative of future operating results.
A severe semiconductor equipment industry downturn began during the first half of Applied Materials' fiscal 1998 as a result of the convergence of several factors: an economic crisis in Asia; semiconductor industry overcapacity (particularly DRAM devices); and reduced profitability for semiconductor manufacturers resulting from a movement among end users to sub-$1,000 personal computers (PCs). These factors caused semiconductor manufacturers to significantly reduce and delay investment in manufacturing equipment during the last half of fiscal 1998. During Applied Materials' fiscal 1999, the industry began to recover from this downturn, and Applied Materials was able to achieve a record level of quarterly new orders and net sales for its third fiscal quarter of 1999.
New Orders and Backlog
Applied Materials received record new orders of $1.5 billion for the third
fiscal quarter of 1999, versus $1.4 billion for the second fiscal quarter of
1999 and $1.0 billion for the first fiscal quarter of 1999.
New orders by region were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended
-----------------------------------
May 2, 1999 August 1, 1999
---------------- ----------------
($) (%) ($) (%)
------- ------- ------- -------
North America*..................... 417 30 408 28
Europe............................. 199 14 230 16
Japan.............................. 237 17 236 16
Korea.............................. 104 8 111 8
Taiwan............................. 347 25 380 26
Asia-Pacific....................... 85 6 94 6
------- ------- ------- -------
Total............................ 1,389 100 1,459 100
======= ======= ======= =======
*
Primarily the United StatesThe increase in new orders from the second fiscal quarter of 1999 is primarily the result of the early stages of a broad-based recovery in the semiconductor industry that Applied Materials serves. This recovery was primarily fueled by strong consumer demand for communications and electronic products. In response to the recovery, semiconductor manufacturers placed significant orders for manufacturing equipment to enable them to increase manufacturing capacity, obtain advanced technology, and perform research and development for their next-generation products with design features below 0.18 micron. Applied Materials' backlog at August 1, 1999 was $1.3 billion, versus $1.4 billion at May 2, 1999 and $1.2 billion at January 31, 1999.
Net Sales
Applied Materials' net sales for the third fiscal quarter of 1999 increased 28
percent from the second fiscal quarter of 1999 primarily as a result of the
broad-based recovery in the semiconductor industry discussed above. Applied
Materials benefited from this recovery because of its strong product position
in advanced applications for 0.18 micron and below device requirements. Net
sales for the third fiscal quarter of 1999 increased 62 percent from the third
fiscal quarter of 1998 due to the low level of business volume in the third
fiscal quarter of 1998, as semiconductor manufacturers limited capital
spending because of difficult industry conditions that began in early-to-mid
1998. Net sales for the nine months ended August 1, 1999 were comparable to
those for the nine months ended July 26, 1998.
Net sales by region were as follows (dollars in millions):
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------------------ -----------------------------
July 26, August 1, July 26, August 1,
1998 1999 1998 1999
-------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
($) (%) ($) (%) ($) (%) ($) (%)
------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------
North America*. 332 38 483 34 1,268 38 1,225 37
Europe......... 193 22 201 14 548 16 468 14
Japan.......... 129 14 237 16 555 17 569 17
Korea.......... 47 5 57 4 129 4 207 6
Taiwan......... 156 18 366 26 717 21 643 20
Asia-Pacific... 27 3 90 6 151 4 182 6
------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- ------
Total......... 884 100 1,434 100 3,368 100 3,294 100
======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ======
*
Primarily the United StatesGross Margin
Applied Materials' gross margin was 48.7 percent for the third fiscal quarter
of 1999, compared to 46.3 percent for the second fiscal quarter of 1999 and
44.6 percent for the third fiscal quarter of 1998. The increases were caused
primarily by higher business volume and the favorable effects of Applied
Materials' restructuring and other operational programs established within the
last year. These programs emphasize cost control and productivity
improvements. Applied Materials' gross margin was 46.7 percent for the nine
months ended August 1, 1999, consistent with 46.8 percent for the nine months
ended July 26, 1998.
Operating Expenses (Excluding Non-Recurring Items)
Excluding non-recurring items, operating expenses as a percentage of net sales
were 25 percent for the three months ended August 1, 1999, compared to 34
percent for the third fiscal quarter of 1998. In terms of absolute dollars,
operating expenses for the three months ended August 1, 1999 were higher than
those for the comparable period of fiscal 1998 due primarily to increased
research and development (R&D) and general and administrative (G&A) spending.
R&D spending was increased to support development efforts for 0.18 micron and
below technology, applications incorporating new materials such as copper and
low-k dielectrics, and equipment capable of processing 300mm wafers. G&A
spending increased as a result of investments in various information
technology programs, including the implementation of a new enterprise
computing system and Year 2000 compliance, and higher costs of incentive and
benefit programs linked to Applied Materials' operating performance.
Operating expenses, excluding non-recurring items, were 29 percent of net
sales for both the nine months ended July 26, 1998 and August 1, 1999.
Non-Recurring Items (Operating Expenses)
Non-recurring items for the nine months ended July 26, 1998 consisted of a $35
million restructuring charge incurred during the third fiscal quarter of 1998,
for costs associated with an employee voluntary separation plan and
consolidation of certain facilities to address the adverse implications of the
semiconductor industry downturn, and $32 million of in-process research and
development expense recorded during the first fiscal quarter of 1998 for the
acquisition of perpetual rights to certain licensed technology. Applied
Materials recorded a $5 million charge in the first fiscal quarter of 1999 for
expenses in connection with an acquisition.
Non-Recurring Income
Non-recurring income for both the nine months ended July 26, 1998 and August
1, 1999 related to Applied Materials' settlement of all outstanding
litigation with ASM International, N.V. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated
Condensed Financial Statements, incorporated herein by reference.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $12 million for the three months ended August 1, 1999,
$11 million for the three months ended July 26, 1998, and $35 million for both
the nine months ended July 26, 1998 and August 1, 1999. Applied Materials'
outstanding interest-bearing obligations and interest rates did not change
significantly from period to period.
Interest Income
Interest income was $26 million for the three months ended August 1, 1999, an
increase from $19 million for the three months ended July 26, 1998. For the
nine months ended August 1, 1999, interest income was $75 million, an increase
from $58 million for the nine months ended July 26, 1998. The increases
resulted primarily from higher average cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investment balances.
Provision for Income Taxes
Applied Materials' effective income tax rate for the three and nine months
ended August 1, 1999 was 31 percent, versus 25 percent and 34 percent for the
three and nine months, respectively, ended July 26, 1998. The 25 percent
effective income tax rate for the three months ended July 26, 1998 was the
result of the cumulative effect of a change in Applied Materials' fiscal 1998
effective income tax rate from 35 percent to 34 percent during the third
fiscal quarter of 1998. The decrease from 34 percent for the nine months
ended July 26, 1998 to 31 percent for the nine months ended August 1, 1999 is
due primarily to the reinstatement of the federal research and development
(R&D) tax credit and favorable California income tax legislation with respect
to R&D and manufacturers investment tax credits.
Pending Acquisition
See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements,
incorporated herein by reference.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Applied Materials had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.3 billion, representing 39 percent of total assets, at August 1, 1999. Applied Materials' ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 3.1:1 at both August 1, 1999 and October 25, 1998.
For the nine months ended August 1, 1999, Applied Materials generated $519 million of cash from operations. Operating cash flow was favorably impacted by Applied Materials' ability to manage its working capital in a period of significant revenue growth. Receivables turnover was favorable due to the sale of certain accounts receivable and improved collections. In addition, inventory turnover improved as a result of reductions in factory cycle times during a period of rapid revenue growth. For further details, see the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows.
During the nine months ended August 1, 1999, Applied Materials sold $637 million of accounts receivable, which has the effect of increasing cash and reducing accounts receivable and days sales outstanding. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements, incorporated herein by reference.
As of August 1, 1999, Applied Materials' principal sources of liquidity consisted of $2.3 billion of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and approximately $600 million of existing credit facilities. Applied Materials' liquidity is affected by many factors, some of which are based on the normal ongoing operations of the business, and others of which relate to the uncertainties of global economies and the semiconductor and semiconductor equipment industries. Although Applied Materials' cash requirements will fluctuate based on the timing and extent of these factors, management believes that cash generated from operations, together with the liquidity provided by existing cash balances and borrowing capability, will be sufficient to satisfy Applied Materials' liquidity requirements for the next 12 months.
Trends, Risks and Uncertainties
Industry Volatility
The semiconductor equipment industry has historically been cyclical and
subject to sudden changes in supply and demand. The variability of overall
semiconductor unit volume demand contributes significantly to the volatility
of the semiconductor equipment industry. Although semiconductors are used in
many different products, the markets for the products are interrelated to
various degrees. The timing, length and severity of these cycles are
difficult to predict. During periods of reduced and declining demand, Applied
Materials must be able to quickly and effectively align its cost structure
with prevailing market conditions, and motivate and retain key employees.
During periods of rapid growth, Applied Materials must be able to acquire
and/or develop sufficient manufacturing capacity to meet customer demand, and
hire and assimilate a sufficient number of qualified people. There can be no
assurance that Applied Materials will be able to achieve these objectives in
a timely manner during these industry cycles.
DRAM Prices
DRAM device prices improved during early fiscal 1999 to levels that enabled
DRAM manufacturers to operate profitably and invest in new equipment, but then
fluctuated significantly during the second and third fiscal quarters of 1999.
If DRAM prices decline to levels that do not allow manufacturers to operate
profitably, these manufacturers may cancel or delay orders for Applied
Materials' products, which could materially and adversely affect Applied
Materials' financial condition and results of operations.
PC Demand
Further shifts in demand from more expensive, high-performance products to
lower-priced products (sub-$1,000 PCs), or lower overall demand for PCs, could
result in reduced profitability for, and lower capital spending by,
semiconductor manufacturers. This could materially and adversely affect
demand for Applied Materials' products.
Highly Competitive Industry and Rapid Technological Change
Applied Materials operates in a highly competitive industry characterized by
increasingly rapid technological changes. Applied Materials' competitive
advantage and future success depend on its ability to develop new products and
technologies, develop new markets in the semiconductor industry for its
products and services, introduce new products to the marketplace in a timely
manner, qualify new products with its customers and commence and change
production to meet customer demands.
New products and technologies include those for new materials (including copper and low-k dielectrics), 300mm wafers, and 0.18 micron and below devices. The introduction of new products and technologies grows increasingly complex over time. If Applied Materials does not develop and introduce new products and technologies in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, its financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Applied Materials seeks to develop new technologies from both internal and external sources. As part of this effort, Applied Materials may make acquisitions of, or significant investments in, businesses with complementary products, services and/or technologies. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including, but not limited to: 1) difficulties and increased costs in connection with integration of the operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies; 2) possible write-downs of impaired assets; 3) diversion of management's attention from other operational matters; and 4) the potential loss of key employees of the acquired companies. The inability to effectively manage these risks could materially and adversely affect Applied Materials' business, financial condition and results of operations.
Asian Economies
Although Asian economies have stabilized to some degree compared to early-to-
mid fiscal 1998, and certain countries such as Taiwan have relatively healthy
economies, Applied Materials remains cautious about general macroeconomic
developments in Asia, particularly in Japan. Japan's economy is important to
the overall financial health of the region and if it remains stagnant or
deteriorates, the economies of other countries, particularly those in Asia,
could also be negatively affected. Negative economic developments in Asia
could have a material adverse effect on demand for Applied Materials'
products.
Global Business
Applied Materials sells systems and provides services to customers located
throughout the world. Managing global operations and sites located throughout
the world presents challenges associated with, among other things, cultural
diversities and organizational alignment. Moreover, each region in the global
semiconductor equipment market exhibits unique characteristics that can cause
capital equipment investment patterns to vary significantly from period to
period. Periodic economic downturns, trade balance issues, political
instability and fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates are all
risks that could materially and adversely affect demand for Applied Materials'
products and services.
Dependence Upon Key Suppliers
Applied Materials uses numerous vendors to supply parts, components and
subassemblies (collectively "parts") for the manufacture and support of its
products. Although Applied Materials makes reasonable efforts to ensure that
parts are available from multiple suppliers, this is not always possible;
accordingly, certain key parts may be obtained only from a single supplier or
a limited group of suppliers. These suppliers are, in some cases, thinly
capitalized, independent companies that generate significant portions of their
business from Applied Materials and/or a small group of other companies in the
semiconductor and/or semiconductor equipment industry. Applied Materials has
sought, and will continue to seek, to minimize the risk of production and
service interruptions and/or shortages of key parts by: 1) selecting and
qualifying alternative suppliers for key parts; 2) monitoring the financial
stability of key suppliers; and 3) maintaining appropriate inventories of key
parts. There can be no assurance that Applied Materials' results of
operations will not be materially and adversely affected if, in the future,
Applied Materials does not receive sufficient parts to meet its requirements
in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Backlog
Applied Materials' backlog increased from $917 million at October 25, 1998 to $1.3
billion at August 1, 1999. Applied Materials schedules production of its systems based
upon order backlog and customer commitments. Backlog includes only orders for
which written authorizations have been accepted and shipment dates within 12
months have been assigned. However, customers generally may delay delivery of
products or cancel orders. Due to possible customer changes in delivery
schedules and cancellation of orders, Applied Materials' backlog at any
particular date is not necessarily indicative of actual sales for any
succeeding period. A reduction of backlog during any particular period could
have a material adverse effect on Applied Materials' business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Year 2000 Readiness
Applied Materials has established a Year 2000 Program Office to address
certain Year 2000 issues. This office focuses on four key readiness programs:
1) Internal Infrastructure Readiness, addressing internal hardware and
software, including both information technology and non-information technology
systems; 2) Supplier Readiness, addressing the preparedness of suppliers
providing material incorporated into Applied Materials' products; 3) Product
Readiness, addressing product functionality; and 4) Customer Readiness,
addressing customer support and transactional activity. For each readiness
area, Applied Materials is systematically performing a global risk assessment,
conducting testing and remediation (renovation and implementation), developing
contingency plans to mitigate unknown and anticipated risks, and communicating
Year 2000 information to employees, suppliers, customers and other third
parties. The information provided herein is a "Year 2000 Readiness
Disclosure" for purposes of the Year 2000 Information and Readiness
Disclosure Act.
Internal Infrastructure Readiness Program
This program is intended to encompass all major categories of hardware and
applications in use by Applied Materials, including those used for
manufacturing, engineering, sales, finance and human resources. Applied
Materials, assisted by a third party, completed an inventory of applications
and information technology hardware and categorized them as either "mission
critical" or "non-mission critical" based upon certain factors, such as
whether a failure of the application or hardware could cause personal injury
or significant disruption to any portion of Applied Materials' business. All
mission critical applications have been remediated, tested as appropriate, and
determined to be Year 2000 ready. Substantially all mission critical
hardware, including hubs, routers, telecommunication equipment, workstations
and other items, has also been remediated, tested as appropriate, and
determined to be Year 2000 ready, with any remaining items to be completed by
September 30, 1999. Applied Materials has also completed its evaluation of
desktop computers and is in the process of replacing computers that are not
Year 2000 ready.
In addition to applications and information technology hardware, Applied Materials has assessed its non-information technology systems, including embedded systems, facilities and other operations, such as financial, banking, security and utility systems. Substantially all mission critical items have been remediated, tested as appropriate, and determined to be Year 2000 ready, with any remaining activity to be completed by September 30, 1999.
Applied Materials has adopted Year 2000 change control procedures to validate that any replacement, modification or upgrade of mission critical applications, information technology hardware and non-information technology systems is Year 2000 ready. A contingency plan to address the impact of unknown and anticipated risks related to Applied Materials' internal infrastructure is in the process of being developed and will continue to be revised and tested during the remainder of calendar 1999.
Supplier Readiness Program
This program focuses on minimizing two areas of risk associated with
suppliers: 1) a supplier's product integrity; and 2) a supplier's ability to
continue providing products and services in accordance with Applied Materials'
standards and requirements. Applied Materials has identified and contacted
key suppliers regarding their relative risks in these two areas. To date,
Applied Materials has received responses from over 95 percent of its
suppliers, most of which indicate that the suppliers, and the products they
provide to Applied Materials, are either Year 2000 ready or will be made Year
2000 ready before the year 2000. Applied Materials engaged an external
consultant to conduct on-site audits of 220 key suppliers. Based on the
results of these audits, Applied Materials is in the process of developing a
supplier action list and contingency plan for those suppliers that do not
appear to be making sufficient progress towards Year 2000 readiness. The
contingency plan may include the identification of alternate suppliers or
increasing Applied Materials' inventory levels for critical parts.
In addition to these activities, Applied Materials relies on commercial or governmental suppliers for infrastructure-related services, including utilities, transportation, financial, governmental, communications and other services. These suppliers pose an undetermined risk to Applied Materials' facilities and operations worldwide. Applied Materials is developing a readiness plan based on the geographic location of Applied Materials' facilities and the infrastructure suppliers used to support these facilities. This plan will include information on current suppliers, and alternate suppliers, if available, to better enable continuation of services in these worldwide locations. In some cases, alternate suppliers of these services, such as electrical utilities, are unavailable, and failure by a supplier could impact Applied Materials. The severity of the impact would be greatest if Applied Materials' manufacturing facilities in the United States were affected. This readiness plan will incorporate a contingency plan focused on those countries in which Applied Materials believes that the Year 2000 issue may most severely affect suppliers of infrastructure services.
Product Readiness Program
This program focuses on identifying and resolving Year 2000 issues existing in
Applied Materials' products. The program encompasses a number of activities,
including testing, evaluation, engineering and manufacturing implementation.
Applied Materials has completed a Year 2000 readiness evaluation for its
current generation of released products based on a series of industry-recognized
esting scenarios. In connection with Applied Materials' Year 2000
readiness evaluation, Applied Materials identified Year 2000 issues in the two
major categories of machine control software and product embedded processors,
and performed impact studies for each product based on a representative
configuration. In addition, by focusing on Applied Materials' parts most
likely to include embedded processors with date-related functions, Applied
Materials narrowed the number of parts requiring further evaluation from
several thousand to approximately 600. These 600 parts were evaluated further
and tested as required.
Applied Materials' evaluation indicated that no human or equipment safety impacts or product process control impacts are expected due to the Year 2000 problem, but that certain screen displays, log files and interface programs may be affected. Applied Materials has taken corrective action to address these affected displays, files and programs, and has remediated any affected embedded processors. In addition, Applied Materials has informed customers of certain potential product-specific impacts of the Year 2000 on Applied Materials' products. Testing and engineering activity for Applied Materials' current generation of products is complete, and unless otherwise requested by a customer, all products that shipped on or after January 1, 1999 were Year 2000 ready.
Customer Readiness Program
This program focuses on customer support issues, including the coordination of
retrofit activity for older generation products, testing existing customer
electronic transaction capability and providing other services to Applied
Materials' customers. Applied Materials, in cooperation with its customers,
has completed an inventory and assessment of products in use at substantially
all of its customers' sites. Applied Materials is offering different upgrade
packages for its products, including various parts, software and services in
the form of "Year 2000 ready kits." As of July 31, 1999, installation of
upgrades for systems that shipped after January 1, 1997 were approximately 90
percent complete. Substantially all remaining upgrades for products shipped
before or after January 1, 1997 are dependent upon specific customer
requirements and schedules. In particular, many of Applied Materials'
customers located in Japan have elected not to implement Applied Materials'
upgrade packages. In addition to other activities under the Customer
Readiness Program, Applied Materials plans to make a customer support team
available to customers experiencing difficulty with Applied Materials'
products at the time of the year 2000 transition.
Consilium
In conjunction with Applied Materials' due diligence examination of Consilium Inc.
(Consilium), which was acquired in December 1998, Applied Materials conducted a limited
evaluation of Consilium's Year 2000 readiness. Since then, Applied Materials
has further evaluated certain areas related to Consilium's internal
information technology, suppliers and products. Most of Consilium's Year 2000
programs related to internal infrastructure and suppliers are either modeled
after, or fully integrated into, Applied Materials' Internal Infrastructure
and Supplier Readiness Programs. Consilium's internal applications and
hardware are in the process of being upgraded and/or converted to Applied
Materials' Year 2000 standards. This process is expected to be complete by
September 30, 1999, and the estimated costs have been included in Applied
Materials' overall Year 2000 Program projection. Consilium's products are
"Year 2000 Compliant" as defined by agreements with its customers, provided
that the products are used in accordance with related documentation and the
underlying operating system of the host machine and any other software used in
conjunction with Consilium's products are also Year 2000 Compliant. Certain
prior versions of Consilium's products require an upgrade to become Year 2000
Compliant. These upgrades are available to Consilium customers as a standard
component of Consilium's maintenance program. Consilium has contacted or
attempted to contact all customers that are believed to have received a non-Year
2000 Compliant version of its product, and has personnel available to
assist its customers in their Year 2000 remediation efforts.
Consilium has received information from its suppliers regarding Year 2000 issues, but has not specifically tested software obtained from its suppliers or software that is incorporated into Consilium's products at the specific request of its customers. Consilium is in the process of evaluating situations in which it installed such software, testing certain software it believes may be affected by the Year 2000 issue and communicating with customers regarding these activities, as applicable. Despite Consilium's testing, and whatever assurances Consilium may receive from developers of products incorporated into its products, Consilium's products may contain undetected errors or defects associated with the Year 2000 issue. Further, prior versions of its products, and certain software provided by third parties or its customers and incorporated into Consilium's products, may not be Year 2000 compliant.
Estimated Costs
Applied Materials estimates that total Year 2000 costs will range from $30
million to $40 million, with $22 million spent as of August 1, 1999. This
amount includes costs to support customer satisfaction programs and services
and other internal costs, but does not include the cost of internal hardware
and software that was to be replaced in the normal course of business but has
been accelerated because of Year 2000 capability concerns. The remaining
costs are expected to be incurred for remediation of non-mission critical
internal systems, contingency planning, customer support programs and program
office management. There can be no assurance, however, that there will not be
a delay in, or increased costs associated with, the programs described in this
section.
Most Likely Worst Case Scenario
Applied Materials believes that the most likely worst-case scenario for Year
2000 problems relates to problems with the systems of third party suppliers,
rather than with Applied Materials' products. The greatest risks are with
suppliers of Applied Materials' facilities and infrastructure services, such
as electrical utilities, transportation, financial services, governmental
services, and communication services, as well as with suppliers of critical
materials for which there is no reasonable business alternative. There can be
no assurance as to whether suppliers will sufficiently address Year 2000
issues and be able to continue to provide products and services to Applied
Materials in a timely manner, or whether Applied Materials' contingency plans
will effectively address such issues. As a result, Applied Materials' ability
to fulfill customer orders or meet other requirements could be affected, and
Applied Materials' financial condition and results of operations could
therefore also be materially and adversely affected.
Risks Associated with the Year 2000 Problem
This discussion broadly addresses Applied Materials' efforts to identify and
address its and applicable third parties' Year 2000 issues with respect to
Applied Materials' four readiness programs. Applied Materials believes it has
taken steps to identify and remediate Year 2000 issues under its various
readiness programs. However, there can be no assurance that product testing
has identified all Year 2000-related issues or that Applied Materials will
effectively address every failure of its products resulting from Year 2000
issues. Among other risks, such failures could result in claims against
Applied Materials, increased warranty or service costs, or delay or loss of
revenue, any of which could materially and adversely affect Applied Materials'
financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, if efforts to
identify and address Year 2000 issues in Applied Materials' customer and
supply base and infrastructure are not successful, Applied Materials may
experience significant unanticipated problems that could materially and
adversely affect Applied Materials' financial condition and results of
operations. In particular, the effects of the Year 2000 issue on Applied
Materials' customers, including those of a customer's failure to install
Applied Materials upgrade packages, are unknown, and could result in the
customer delaying orders for Applied Materials' products and could otherwise
materially and adversely affect Applied Materials' financial condition and
results of operations. Finally, significant litigation regarding Year 2000
issues is possible, especially as it relates to software companies such as
Consilium. It is uncertain whether, or to what extent, Applied Materials may
be affected by such litigation.
Foreign Currency
Significant operations of Applied Materials are conducted in foreign
currencies, primarily Japanese yen. Applied Materials actively manages its
exposure to changes in currency exchange rates, but there can be no assurance
that future changes in currency exchange rates will not have a material and
adverse effect on Applied Materials' financial condition or results of
operations.
Euro Conversion
On January 1, 1999, 11 of the 15 member countries of the European Union
established fixed conversion rates between each of their existing sovereign
currencies and the Single European Currency (the "euro"). The participating
countries adopted the euro as their common legal currency on that date, with a
transition period through January 1, 2002 regarding certain elements of the
euro change. In early January, Applied Materials implemented changes to its
internal systems to make them euro capable. The cost of systems modifications
to date has not been material, nor are future systems modifications expected
to be material. Applied Materials does not expect the transition to, or use
of, the euro to materially and adversely affect its business, financial
condition or results of operations.
Litigation
Applied Materials is currently involved in litigation regarding patent
infringement, intellectual property rights, antitrust and other matters (see
Part II, Item 1 of this report), and could become involved in additional
litigation in the future. Applied Materials from time to time receives and
makes inquiries regarding possible patent infringement, and is subject to
various other legal proceedings and claims, either asserted or unasserted.
Any such claims, whether with or without merit, could be time-consuming and
expensive to defend and could divert management's attention and resources.
There can be no assurance regarding the outcome of current or future
litigation or patent infringement inquiries.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Significant operations of Applied Materials are conducted in foreign currencies, primarily Japanese yen. Forward exchange and currency option contracts are purchased to hedge certain existing firm commitments and foreign currency denominated transactions expected to occur during the next year. Gains and losses on these contracts are recognized in income when the related transactions being hedged are recognized. Because the effect of movements in currency exchange rates on forward exchange and currency option contracts generally offsets the related effect on the underlying items being hedged, these financial instruments are not expected to subject Applied Materials to risks that would otherwise result from changes in currency exchange rates. Net foreign currency gains and losses were not material for the three or nine months ended July 26, 1998 or August 1, 1999.
Applied Materials has performed an analysis to assess the potential effect of reasonably possible near-term changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates. The effect of such rate changes is not expected to be material to Applied Materials' cash flows, financial condition or results of operations.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
AG
In April 1997, Applied Materials initiated a lawsuit against AG Associates,
Inc. (AG) (case no. C-97-20375-RMW) in the United States District Court for
the Northern District of California, alleging infringement of certain patents
concerning rapid thermal processing (RTP) technology. In October 1997, AG
filed counterclaims against Applied Materials alleging patent infringement
concerning related technology.
Discovery in Applied Materials' case against AG has commenced, and trial has been set for March 2000. In addition, in August 1998, AG filed two separate patent infringement lawsuits against Applied Materials, one in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (case no. C-98-03044-WHO) and one in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (civil action no. 98-479). On February 2, 1999, the Delaware District Court issued an order transferring their case to the Northern District of California (case no. C-98-20883-RMW). No trial dates have been set in these actions. Applied Materials continues to believe it has meritorious claims and defenses against AG and intends to pursue them vigorously.
KLA
As a result of Applied Materials' acquisition of Orbot Instruments, Ltd.
(Orbot), Applied Materials is involved in a lawsuit captioned KLA Instruments
Corporation (KLA) v. Orbot (case no. C-93-20886-JW) in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California. KLA alleges that
Orbot infringes a patent regarding equipment for the inspection of masks and
reticles, and seeks an injunction, damages and such other relief as the Court
may find appropriate. There has been limited discovery, but no trial date has
been set. Management believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to
pursue them vigorously.
Varian and Novellus
On June 13, 1997, Applied Materials filed a lawsuit against Varian Associates,
Inc. (Varian) captioned Applied Materials, Inc. v. Varian Associates, Inc.
(case no. C-97-20523-RMW), alleging infringement of several of Applied
Materials' patents concerning physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology. The
complaint was later amended on July 7, 1997 to include Novellus Systems, Inc.
(Novellus) as a defendant as a result of Novellus' acquisition of Varian's
thin film systems PVD business. Applied Materials seeks damages for past
infringement, a permanent injunction, treble damages for willful infringement,
pre-judgment interest and attorneys' fees. Varian answered the complaint by
denying all allegations, counterclaiming for declaratory judgment of
invalidity and unenforceability and alleging conduct by Applied Materials in
violation of antitrust laws. On June 23, 1997, Novellus filed a separate
lawsuit against Applied Materials captioned Novellus Systems, Inc. v. Applied
Materials, Inc. (case no. C-97-20551-EAI), alleging infringement by Applied
Materials of three patents concerning PVD technology that were formerly owned
by Varian. On July 8, 1997, Varian filed a separate lawsuit against Applied
Materials captioned Varian Associates, Inc. v. Applied Materials, Inc. (case
no. C-97-20597-PVT). On July 16, 1999, Varian was granted leave to file a
First Amended Complaint alleging a broad range of conduct in violation of
federal antitrust laws and state unfair competition and business practice
laws. Discovery has commenced in these actions, but no trial dates have been
set. Management believes it has meritorious claims and defenses and intends
to pursue them vigorously.
OKI
In November 1997, OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI) filed suit against one
of Applied Materials' wholly-owned subsidiaries, Applied Materials Japan
(AMJ), in Tokyo District Court in Japan, alleging that AMJ is obligated to
indemnify OKI for a portion of patent license royalties paid by OKI to Texas
Instruments, Inc. Several hearings have been held, but no trial date has been
set. Management believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to
pursue them vigorously.
Applied Materials is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims, either asserted or unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. Although the outcome of these claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that any of these legal matters will have a material adverse effect on Applied Materials' financial condition or results of operations.
Item 5. Other Information
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended July 26, 1998 and August 1, 1999, and for each of the last five fiscal years, was as follows:
Nine Months Ended
Fiscal Year ----------------------
------------------------------------------------ July 26, Aug. 1,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ----------
13.37x 21.25x 20.14x 18.96x 6.92x 12.39x 12.63x
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========== ==========
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
a) Exhibits are numbered in accordance with the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation S-K:
3(i)(a) Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of the Terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Applied Materials, Inc., dated as of July 7, 1999.
3(i)(b) Certificate of Incorporation of Applied Materials, Inc., as amended to July 12, 1999.
3(ii)(a) Amendment to the Bylaws of Applied Materials, Inc., dated as of June 23, 1999.
3(ii)(b) Amendment to the Bylaws of Applied Materials, Inc., dated as of July 7, 1999.
3(ii)(c) Bylaws of Applied Materials, Inc., as amended and restated through July 7, 1999 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 1999).
4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of July 7, 1999, between Applied Materials, Inc. and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Rights Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated July 9, 1999).
27.0 Financial Data Schedule for the nine months ended August 1, 1999: filed electronically.
b) A Current Report on Form 8-K, dated July 7, 1999, was filed during the
quarter ended August 1, 1999, reporting a dividend distribution of
preferred stock purchase rights to Applied Materials' common
stockholders. This item was reported under Item 5 of such Form 8-K.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirement of the Security Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| APPLIED MATERIALS, INC. |
September 14, 1999
| By: | /s/ Joseph R. Bronson |
|
| |
| Joseph R. Bronson | |
|
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Member, Office of the President |
| By: | /s/ Michael K. O'Farrell |
|
| |
| Michael K. O'Farrell | |
| Vice President, Global Controller and Principal Accounting Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
---------- -----------
3(i)(a) Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of the Terms
of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Applied
Materials, Inc., dated as of July 7, 1999.
3(i)(b) Certificate of Incorporation of Applied Materials, Inc., as
amended to July 12, 1999.
3(ii)(a) Amendment to the Bylaws of Applied Materials, Inc.,
dated as of June 23, 1999.
3(ii)(b) Amendment to the Bylaws of Applied Materials, Inc.,
dated as of July 7, 1999.
27.0 Financial Data Schedule for the nine months ended August 1, 1999:
filed electronically.
|
|